Hamiet Bluiett, Legendary Jazz Saxophonist, Dies at 78

[Dr. Nelson Harrison]

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OCTOBER 5, 2018 2:50PM PT

Hamiet Bluiett, Legendary Jazz Saxophonist, Dies at 78

By VARIETY STAFF

• Hamiet Bluiett, Legendary Jazz Saxophonist, Dies at 78

CREDIT: REDFERNS

Legendary jazz saxophonist Hamiet Bluiett passed away Thursday at the age of 78, according to the St. Louis American. Widely considered to be one of the greatest baritone saxophonists in jazz history, he was active for more than five decades, performing with Charles Mingus, Babatunde Olatunji, Abdullah Ibrahim, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and others, and his influence cast a long shadow over the genre.

Bluiett was in Brooklyn, Illinois, near St. Louis in 1940 and studied several instruments as a child, settling on baritone saxophone at the age of ten. He played with various bands throughout his teens and joined the Navy band in 1961. Returning to St. Louis in the mid-1960s, he co-founded the multi-discipline Black Artists’ Group and worked with it for several years.

In 1969, he moved to New York and joined the Charles Mingus Quintet and Sam Rivers’ large ensemble. In 1976 he co-founded the World Saxophone Quartet with Julius Hemphill and Oliver Lake, fellow veterans of the Black Artists’ Group, and David Murray. The group continued with several lineup changes over the following decades (including one with Branford Marsalis), releasing some 21 albums. Along with that group, over the past three decades has also formed and performed with the Bluiett Baritone Nation — made up of baritone saxophones with percussion accompaniment — and the Clarinet Family, a group of eight clarinetists, along with session work.

[Dr. Nelson Harrison]

Published 03/20/2019    By Oliver Lake

Oliver Lake Remembers Hamiet Bluiett

The poet composes a lyric farewell for the saxophonist (9/16/40 – 10/4/18)

Hamiet Bluiett passed away on Oct. 4, 2018. (photo by: Alan Nahigian)

B

LUIETT!  But, What is his real name?

Bluiett ! Bluiett is his real name

Oh, I thought it was a nick name, because he blew the horn,

BLEW-IT

man! did he blow the horn

like no one else he sounded

sounded, high, low, long & loud

Bluiett blew with the world, World Saxophone Quartet that is…

Bluiett blew with the spirits, blew with the drums

blew with the things & strings

But, What is his real name?

Bluiett ! Bluiett is his real name

He could also make you laugh

and sting you right after that

he was/is a Soul brother

a natural teacher/preacher

with sounds / words

cosmic teachings

and don’t talk about how sensitive an ear he possessed,

he would say “Lake, I hear changed reeds”

he was observing all the time      all the time

But, What is his real name?

Bluiett ! Bluiett is his real name

Bluiett

the undisputed master of the baritone saxophone

“In this corner”         “In this corner”     baritone saxophone innovator

beep, honk, scream, pray, dance, jazz, inside, outside, meditate, groove, jump!

You had to be ready for him

His mission was to bring happiness & joy thru the music

But, What is his real name?

LOVE   ■